Your Say: Funding 'Sesame Street' vs. Wall Street
During first presidential debate, Mitt Romney stated he loved Big Bird, but would cut funding to PBS.
Comments from Facebook and Twitter:
Let's do the math — $26 million for PBS and $650 billion for defense. Yup, that cut to PBS will really make a difference in the budget. To hell with educational programming for kids. We need more guns and bombs.
Chris Sadler
There is much about PBS that is exceptional. However in numerous ways it represents a very singular mindset of liberal ideology. This can be seen (when viewed objectively) in the news and other programs. PBS is no longer a non-commercial enterprise. Aside from intense fundraising, PBS has had commercial sponsors for years. Is that fair to other broadcast venues?
Harry Martin
I wish Obama would talk about securing our embassies around the world as much as he talks about securing Sesame Street.
--@CharlieDaniels
As a PBS fan, I still say we should not borrow from China to fund PBS.
--@bibliomama5
Presidential job approval rating: 30% on the federal budget. Sesame Street is losing to Main Street.
--@souperfan2012
Again I say if people like PBS enough to watch the programs, they will donate to keep it going. I do. Why shouldn't everyone else?
--@Parlay1992
Letters to the editor:
The first sentence of a recent article accusing Mitt Romney of vowing to fire Big Bird is more than a distortion of facts. Defunding and firing are two completely different things. Sesame Street would survive just fine without public funding.
Frank Farkas; Kansas City, Mo.
Mitt Romney said he would discontinue federal funding for PBS. Nature, Planet Earth and hundreds of other educational programs, such as Sesame Street, show us the beauty of our wild lands. They document the essential nature of each component of our environment and how all components interact to keep our entire planet in balance.
Without an appreciation for the knowledge gained by viewing these programs, we will cease to care about preserving it, eventually giving free rein to extractive industries (Romney's major supporters) to plunder our wild lands. For several years, Republicans have waged war on women, education, food stamps, health care, the environment, immigrants and now Big Bird.
Adele E. Zimmermann; Embudo, N.M.